Story of my life (credit cards, payments, saving, unemployed)

[dragonfly0428]

I've been noticing lately that many creditors are now charging a "convenience fee" for paying bills online. Some of these fees are as high as $4.95 each time you make a payment. I refuse to pay this fee, so I had to look at other alternatives.

Pay by phone has the same fees, so that's out. Paying in person takes me all over town, and with the price of gas that's out too. I'm now unemployed and am saving every penny. So I guess it's back to writing checks and sending out in the mail. I can afford stamps...

But wait - I am low on checks for next month, so I go online to reorder. Just the plain ones, nothing fancy.

$31.00 For ONE BOX!

They sure get you one way or another, don't they?

[cdcdguy]

If you don't have a ton of bills you can buy a money order for 49-69 cents. And you don't have to keep track of a check book. Not easy if you have a lot of bills though, but cheaper than checks or the 4.95 fees. I am now back to snail mail too.

[Darrow]

Yes, they do get you. I put my insurance payments on monthly draft - so minimal charges there, for now anyway.

[wheelsup]

It should be illegal to charge to collect money. Isn't that generally under the heading of "the cost of doing business"?

[Ellise]

I use Bank of America's online bill paying. No fees whatsoever.

Their customer service sux, though, if you're unfortunate enough to need it.

[tryin2buy]

I've ordered checks from Costco and Walmart online.....really inexpensive!

[Moonwalkr]

Some online checking accounts (ING Direct, for example) will write and send out paper checks for you for free if the merchants do not accept e-checks.

[texdav]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

It should be illegal to charge to collect money. Isn't that generally under the heading of "the cost of doing business"?

Then the same bills would either be higher to start with or due in full. Its like credit cards that use to be only for the middle class with fees and due each month.There has always been paynets and cost to pay on time we just didn't see teh fees as separate items. Actaully its like looking at a discount for cash really.They are not charging to collect money;they are charging not to collect the full maonut how.

[berdee]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

It should be illegal to charge to collect money. Isn't that generally under the heading of "the cost of doing business"?

Charging fees for accepting e-bill payments is addressed in the credit card bill of rights, but, amendments that are proposed for regulation E will basically stick those fees back on. (not sure how they plan to do that, but they are trying) E-bill payments are only one thing that are in those proposed amendments, another is allowing the banking industry free rein in having fee based checking accounts. Possibly an end to free checking, for the most part. *sigh*

[suzie02]

Originally Posted by dragonfly0428

I've been noticing lately that many creditors are now charging a "convenience fee" for paying bills online. Some of these fees are as high as $4.95 each time you make a payment. I refuse to pay this fee, so I had to look at other alternatives.

Pay by phone has the same fees, so that's out. Paying in person takes me all over town, and with the price of gas that's out too. I'm now unemployed and am saving every penny. So I guess it's back to writing checks and sending out in the mail. I can afford stamps...

But wait - I am low on checks for next month, so I go online to reorder. Just the plain ones, nothing fancy.

$31.00 For ONE BOX!

They sure get you one way or another, don't they?

Use Billpay from your checking account. If a creditor doesn't accept electronic payments then they will mail a paper check.
Which creditors are you dealing with? I haven't seen fees like that except when you pay with a credit card.